EP0928780A1 - Apparatus for butt-welding optical fibre preforms - Google Patents
Apparatus for butt-welding optical fibre preforms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0928780A1 EP0928780A1 EP99400001A EP99400001A EP0928780A1 EP 0928780 A1 EP0928780 A1 EP 0928780A1 EP 99400001 A EP99400001 A EP 99400001A EP 99400001 A EP99400001 A EP 99400001A EP 0928780 A1 EP0928780 A1 EP 0928780A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- axis
- preforms
- nozzles
- rotation
- flames
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
- C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
- C03B37/012—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments
- C03B37/01205—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B23/00—Re-forming shaped glass
- C03B23/20—Uniting glass pieces by fusing without substantial reshaping
- C03B23/207—Uniting glass rods, glass tubes, or hollow glassware
Definitions
- the invention relates to a device for welding preforms of end-to-end optical fibers comprising two preforms mounted on a glass tower to be rotated around the same axis of rotation and to be moved in translation parallel to this axis of rotation at least for one of them, two nozzles carried by two oxyhydrogen torches being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other.
- the two flames are created by the combustion of oxygen and hydrogen released in the form of jets gas by the two nozzles.
- the thermal energy released by the combustion is provided at both ends of the preforms being face to soften the material which constitutes them and which is in general glassy silica.
- the rotation of the preforms which have a geometry cylindrical with for example a circular section ensures a thermal homogenization of the periphery of the two ends.
- the translational movement of the preforms parallel to the axis of rotation allows welding by approximation and contact of the two softened ends.
- the two nozzles are fixed and that the flames created by the two rows of holes are oriented in a way oblique with respect to the axis of rotation to heat a crown outer of the two ends of the preforms which corresponds to the thickness of a tube of which it is made.
- the area affected by the heating is less protected from pollution which can adsorb more easily with heat and cause contamination of the lateral surface of the preform across the width of the affected area.
- the object of the invention is to provide a welding device for optical fiber preform which overcomes the disadvantages described previously.
- the subject of the invention is a device for welding end-to-end optical fiber preforms comprising two preforms mounted on a glass lathe to be rotated around of the same axis of rotation and to be moved in translation parallel to this axis of rotation at least for one of them, two nozzles carried by two oxyhydrogen torches being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other, characterized in that at least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of so as to make the two flames converge towards the axis of rotation and create two heating cones at the right of the two ends of the preforms.
- the invention also extends to a welding device for end-to-end optical fiber preforms comprising two preforms arranged vertically along a fiber-drawing axis of a preform descent, two nozzles carried by two torches oxyhydric being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of fiberizing and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other, characterized in that at least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis of fiberizing so as to converge the two flames towards the axis of fiberizing and to create two heating cones at the right of the two ends preforms.
- the displacement of one of the two nozzles in translation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the glass tower or the fiber-drawing axis of the preform descent machine reduces the distance between the two nozzles so that the two flames escaping from the nozzles converge towards the axis of rotation or fiberizing by overlapping.
- the overlap generates two cones heating at the right of each end of the preforms. Where it comes from that the surface of each end is exposed as a whole to the heating cone and is brought to a higher temperature more quickly than with the device of the prior art.
- This augmentation heating speed proportionally reduces the duration of exposure of the extremities to the flames and consequently of limit the propagation of heat in the axial direction of preforms.
- the width affected by the heating is thus less than the diameter of the preform, of the order of a third.
- Figure 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention having two nozzles carried by two torches.
- Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device according to the invention showing two pivoting auxiliary nozzles carried by one of the torches.
- the device according to the invention comprises a glass tower 1 with two supports 3 and 5 having a common axis of rotation A.
- supports each carry a preform 7, respectively 9, cylindrical with circular base and made of silica, at least one 3 of the two supports being movable in translation parallel to the axis of rotation A.
- the two preforms 7 and 9 are held in the supports 3 and 5 via a mandrel 11, respectively 13.
- the glass tower 1 includes a housing 2 in which is disposed a first torch 17 carrying a first nozzle 19.
- a second torch 21 carrying a second nozzle 23 is disposed at vertical to the first torch 17 and mounted on a bracket 25 shown in Figure 2, which extends perpendicular to the housing 2 and the axis of rotation A.
- the bracket 25 includes a mechanism 22 for example at racks of displacement in translation of the second torch 21.
- the two nozzles 19 and 23 are arranged in a same axis T which coincides with the direction of translation of the second blowtorch 21.
- the nozzles have a tubular geometry and consist of vitreous silica. They are supplied via torches in combustion gas for example in oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen escapes through a central orifice relative to an outlet section of the nozzles and through a ring of orifices surrounding the central opening. Hydrogen escapes from a nozzle wrapping these holes to allow a mixture to be obtained oxygen / hydrogen. In this way, the combustion flame has a substantially axial symmetry and is focused in the direction of the tubular nozzle from which it came.
- the two preforms are displaced in rotation around the axis of rotation A, in the same direction 15 and at the same speed.
- the two nozzles 19 and 23 create two flames 191 and 231 between two ends 71 and 91 of the preforms facing the glass lathe 1.
- the nozzle 23 carried by the second torch 21 movable in translation is moved parallel to the direction T so as to make the two flames 191 and 231 converge towards the axis of rotation A.
- they generate two heating cones 6 and 8 at the right of the two ends 71 and 91.
- the heat of combustion of oxygen and hydrogen is distributed by the two heating cones over the entire surface of each end and produces a relatively uniform softening of the vitreous silica.
- the mobile support 3 is moved in translation parallel to the axis of rotation A so as to bring the two ends 71 and 91 into contact preforms and allow butt welding.
- the first torch 17 further comprises two auxiliary nozzles 27 and 29 arranged on either side of the first nozzle 19 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A and pivotally mounted in this plan.
- the two auxiliary nozzles 27 and 29 and the first nozzle 19 are coplanar.
- the two auxiliary nozzles create two flames 271 and 291 which converge towards the axis of rotation.
- they provide additional combustion heat available for heating the ends of preforms having a more or less large diameter.
- the two auxiliary nozzles distribute the additional heat over the entire surface of the ends, helping to raise the temperature faster extremities and limit the spread of heat in the direction axial of the preforms.
- Centering the heating cones according to the diameter of the preforms is obtained by pivoting 28 of the two nozzles auxiliaries in the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
- the diameter of the heating cones is proportional to the flow rates of the nozzles in combustion gas.
- the device according to the invention thus makes it possible to weld preforms of different diameters typically included between 40 millimeters (mm) and 120 mm.
- the two auxiliary nozzles 27 and 29 and the first nozzle 19 carried by the first torch 17 have together a gas flow equal to that of the second nozzle 23 carried by the second torch 21.
- Such adjustment of the gas flow rates optimizes the expenditure of combustion heat.
- two preforms with a diameter of 70 mm are butt welded in a few minutes, the width of the area affected by heating being limited is 20 mm.
- weld bead is also an absence of weld bead as well as an absence of silica deposit on the part and across the welding area.
- a welding device in a third embodiment of the invention, includes the two preforms described previously and arranged vertically along a fiberizing axis of a known preform descent machine.
- the two nozzles and the two previous oxyhydrogen torches are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the fiber-drawing axis and create two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other.
- At least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis fiberizing so as to converge the two flames towards the axis of fiberizing and to create two heating cones in line with the two ends of the preforms.
- the welding is made without rotation of the two preforms around the axis of fiberizing. Continuous welding of the preforms is provided when the torches and nozzles are integrated into a set arranged in upstream of the preform descent machine which aligns the preforms in the fiber-drawing axis.
- the first or the second torch is provided with two nitrogen nozzles arranged on either side of the torch to focus on the welding faces of the two preforms, the flames from the first or second combustion gas nozzle.
- the two nitrogen nozzles also prevent deposits pollutant of silica on the lateral surface of the preforms.
- the two nozzles are arranged at 50 millimeters apart and on the other side of the torch and their nitrogen flow is 20 liters per minute.
- the nitrogen nozzles limit the heating of the preform which occupies a higher position with respect to the other preform, in counteracting a chimney effect of gases from the nozzles to combustion.
- one of the two movable torches is planned around the fiber drawing axis and to impose it, in the plane perpendicular to the fiber axis, a back and forth movement angular for example 60 degrees with a period of 10 seconds. With this movement, we weld two preforms of 100 millimeters in diameter in less than a minute.
Abstract
Description
L'invention concerne un dispositif de soudage de préformes de fibres optiques bout à bout comprenant deux préformes montées sur un tour verrier pour être déplacées en rotation autour d'un même axe de rotation et pour être déplacées en translation parallèlement à cet axe de rotation au moins pour l'une d'entre elles, deux buses portées par deux chalumeaux oxhydriques étant disposées dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation et créant deux flammes entre deux extrémités des préformes se faisant face.The invention relates to a device for welding preforms of end-to-end optical fibers comprising two preforms mounted on a glass tower to be rotated around the same axis of rotation and to be moved in translation parallel to this axis of rotation at least for one of them, two nozzles carried by two oxyhydrogen torches being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other.
Dans un tel dispositif, les deux flammes sont créées par la combustion de l'oxygène et de l'hydrogène libérés sous forme de jets gazeux par les deux buses. L'énergie thermique dégagée par la combustion est fournie aux deux extrémités des préformes se faisant face pour ramollir le matériau qui les constitue et qui est en général de la silice vitreuse. La rotation des préformes qui ont une géométrie cylindrique avec par exemple une section circulaire assure une homogénéisation thermique de la périphérie des deux extrémités. Le mouvement de translation des préformes parallèlement à l'axe de rotation permet de réaliser le soudage par rapprochement et contact des deux extrémités ramollies.In such a device, the two flames are created by the combustion of oxygen and hydrogen released in the form of jets gas by the two nozzles. The thermal energy released by the combustion is provided at both ends of the preforms being face to soften the material which constitutes them and which is in general glassy silica. The rotation of the preforms which have a geometry cylindrical with for example a circular section ensures a thermal homogenization of the periphery of the two ends. The translational movement of the preforms parallel to the axis of rotation allows welding by approximation and contact of the two softened ends.
Le document US 3 113 012 décrit un dispositif de ce type dans lequel les buses ont une géométrie semi-circulaire et possèdent deux rangées d'orifices d'où s'échappent les gaz nécessaires à la combustion.Document US 3,113,012 describes a device of this type in which the nozzles have a semicircular geometry and have two rows of orifices from which the gases necessary for the combustion.
On peut noter que les deux buses sont fixes et que les flammes créées par les deux rangées d'orifices sont orientées d'une manière oblique vis à vis de l'axe de rotation pour chauffer une couronne extérieure des deux extrémités des préformes qui correspond à l'épaisseur d'un tube dont elle sont constituées.It should be noted that the two nozzles are fixed and that the flames created by the two rows of holes are oriented in a way oblique with respect to the axis of rotation to heat a crown outer of the two ends of the preforms which corresponds to the thickness of a tube of which it is made.
Le soudage de préformes pleines à l'aide d'un tel dispositif nécessite une durée d'exposition relativement plus longue des extrémités pour obtenir un ramollissement non plus seulement limité à une couronne extérieure mais s'étendant sur toute la surface de l'extrémité. La propagation de la chaleur par conduction de la périphérie vers le centre de la surface engendre inévitablement une propagation de la chaleur dans la direction axiale de la préforme. La largeur de la zone ainsi affectée par le chauffage est de l'ordre du diamètre de la préforme. Après le soudage, les contraintes thermiques créées lors du chauffage engendrent une hétérogénéité mécanique de la matière sur toute la largeur de la zone affectée, qui se révèle préjudiciable pour la fibre optique issue de cette zone lors du fibrage des deux préformes soudées bout à bout.Welding of solid preforms using such a device requires a relatively longer exposure time of ends to obtain a softening not only limited to an outer crown but extending over the entire surface of the end. The propagation of heat by conduction of the periphery towards the center of the surface inevitably generates a heat propagation in the axial direction of the preform. The width of the area thus affected by heating is of the order of preform diameter. After welding, thermal stresses created during heating generate a mechanical heterogeneity of the material across the entire width of the affected area, which is revealed harmful to the optical fiber from this area during fiberizing two preforms welded end to end.
On peut également noter que la zone affectée par le chauffage est moins protégée de pollutions qui peuvent s'adsorber plus facilement avec la chaleur et engendrer une contamination de la surface latérale de la préforme sur la largeur de la zone affectée.It can also be noted that the area affected by the heating is less protected from pollution which can adsorb more easily with heat and cause contamination of the lateral surface of the preform across the width of the affected area.
Le but de l'invention est de fournir un dispositif de soudage de préforme de fibres optiques qui pallie les inconvénients décrits précédemment.The object of the invention is to provide a welding device for optical fiber preform which overcomes the disadvantages described previously.
A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un dispositif de soudage de préformes de fibres optiques bout à bout comprenant deux préformes montées sur un tour verrier pour être déplacées en rotation autour d'un même axe de rotation et pour être déplacées en translation parallèlement à cet axe de rotation au moins pour l'une d'entre elles, deux buses portées par deux chalumeaux oxhydriques étant disposées dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation et créant deux flammes entre deux extrémités des préformes se faisant face, caractérisé en ce que l'une au moins des deux buses est montée mobile en translation perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation de manière à faire converger les deux flammes vers l'axe de rotation et à créer deux cônes de chauffe au droit des deux extrémités des préformes.To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for welding end-to-end optical fiber preforms comprising two preforms mounted on a glass lathe to be rotated around of the same axis of rotation and to be moved in translation parallel to this axis of rotation at least for one of them, two nozzles carried by two oxyhydrogen torches being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other, characterized in that at least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of so as to make the two flames converge towards the axis of rotation and create two heating cones at the right of the two ends of the preforms.
L'invention s'étend également à un dispositif de soudage de préformes de fibres optiques bout à bout comprenant deux préformes disposées verticalement suivant un axe de fibrage d'une machine de descente préforme, deux buses portées par deux chalumeaux oxhydriques étant disposées dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de fibrage et créant deux flammes entre deux extrémités des préformes se faisant face, caractérisé en ce que l'une au moins des deux buses est montée mobile en translation perpendiculairement à l'axe de fibrage de manière à faire converger les deux flammes vers l'axe de fibrage et à créer deux cônes de chauffe au droit des deux extrémités des préformes.The invention also extends to a welding device for end-to-end optical fiber preforms comprising two preforms arranged vertically along a fiber-drawing axis of a preform descent, two nozzles carried by two torches oxyhydric being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of fiberizing and creating two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other, characterized in that at least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis of fiberizing so as to converge the two flames towards the axis of fiberizing and to create two heating cones at the right of the two ends preforms.
Dans le dispositif selon l'invention, le déplacement de l'une des deux buses en translation perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation du tour verrier ou à l'axe de fibrage de la machine descente préforme réduit la distance entre les deux buses de telle sorte que les deux flammes qui s'échappent des buses convergent vers l'axe de rotation ou de fibrage en se recouvrant. Le recouvrement génère deux cônes de chauffe au droit de chaque extrémité des préformes. D'où il résulte que la surface de chaque extrémité est exposée dans son ensemble au cône de chauffe et est portée à plus haute température plus rapidement que par le dispositif de l'art antérieur. Cette augmentation de la vitesse de chauffage permet de réduire proportionnellement la durée d'exposition des extrémités aux flammes et par conséquent de limiter la propagation de la chaleur dans la direction axiale des préformes. La largeur affectée par le chauffage est ainsi inférieure au diamètre de la préforme, de l'ordre d'un tiers. In the device according to the invention, the displacement of one of the two nozzles in translation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the glass tower or the fiber-drawing axis of the preform descent machine reduces the distance between the two nozzles so that the two flames escaping from the nozzles converge towards the axis of rotation or fiberizing by overlapping. The overlap generates two cones heating at the right of each end of the preforms. Where it comes from that the surface of each end is exposed as a whole to the heating cone and is brought to a higher temperature more quickly than with the device of the prior art. This augmentation heating speed proportionally reduces the duration of exposure of the extremities to the flames and consequently of limit the propagation of heat in the axial direction of preforms. The width affected by the heating is thus less than the diameter of the preform, of the order of a third.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaítront à la lecture de la description de trois modes de réalisation de l'invention illustrés par les dessins.Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of three embodiments of the invention illustrated by the drawings.
La figure 1 est une vue de profil du dispositif selon l'invention ayant deux buses portées par deux chalumeaux .Figure 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention having two nozzles carried by two torches.
La figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale partielle du dispositif selon l'invention montrant deux buses auxiliaires pivotantes portées par l'un des chalumeaux.Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device according to the invention showing two pivoting auxiliary nozzles carried by one of the torches.
Figure 1, le dispositif selon l'invention comprend un tour verrier 1
à deux supports 3 et 5 ayant un axe commun de rotation A. Les
supports portent chacun une préforme 7, respectivement 9,
cylindrique à base circulaire et constituée de silice, l'un 3 au moins
des deux supports étant mobile en translation parallèlement à l'axe de
rotation A. Les deux préformes 7 et 9 sont maintenues dans les
supports 3 et 5 par l'intermédiaire d'un mandrin 11, respectivement
13.Figure 1, the device according to the invention comprises a glass tower 1
with two
Le tour verrier 1 comprend un logement 2 dans lequel est
disposé un premier chalumeau 17 portant une première buse 19. Un
deuxième chalumeau 21 portant une deuxième buse 23 est disposé à
l'aplomb du premier chalumeau 17 et monté sur une potence 25
montrée sur la figure 2, qui s'étend perpendiculairement au logement
2 et l'axe de rotation A.The glass tower 1 includes a
La potence 25 comporte un mécanisme 22 par exemple à
crémaillères de déplacement en translation du deuxième chalumeau
21. De préférence, les deux buses 19 et 23 sont disposées suivant un
même axe T qui coïncide avec la direction de translation du deuxième
chalumeau 21.The
Les buses ont une géométrie tubulaires et sont constituées de silice vitreuse. Elles sont alimentées par l'intermédiaire des chalumeaux en gaz de combustion par exemple en oxygène et hydrogène. L'oxygène s'échappe par un orifice central par rapport à une section de sortie des buses et par une couronne d'orifices entourant l'orifice central. L'hydrogène s'échappe d'une tuyère enveloppant ces orifices pour permettre d'obtenir un mélange oxygène/hydrogène. De cette manière, la flamme de combustion possède une symétrie sensiblement axiale et est focalisée dans la direction de la buse tubulaire d'où elle est issue.The nozzles have a tubular geometry and consist of vitreous silica. They are supplied via torches in combustion gas for example in oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen escapes through a central orifice relative to an outlet section of the nozzles and through a ring of orifices surrounding the central opening. Hydrogen escapes from a nozzle wrapping these holes to allow a mixture to be obtained oxygen / hydrogen. In this way, the combustion flame has a substantially axial symmetry and is focused in the direction of the tubular nozzle from which it came.
Lors de la mise en oeuvre du dispositif, les deux préformes sont
déplacées en rotation autour de l'axe de rotation A, dans un même
sens 15 et à une même vitesse. Les deux buses 19 et 23 créent deux
flammes 191 et 231 entre deux extrémités 71 et 91 des préformes se
faisant face sur le tour verrier 1. La buse 23 portée par le deuxième
chalumeau 21 mobile en translation est déplacée parallèlement à la
direction T de manière à faire converger les deux flammes 191 et 231
vers l'axe de rotation A. En se recouvrant partiellement, elles
engendrent deux cônes de chauffe 6 et 8 au droit des deux extrémités
71 et 91. La chaleur de combustion de l'oxygène et de l'hydrogène est
répartie par les deux cônes de chauffe sur toute la surface de chaque
extrémité et engendre un ramollissement relativement uniforme de la
silice vitreuse. Il en résulte une augmentation de température
relativement rapide, permettant de limiter la progression de la chaleur
dans la direction axiale des préformes. A la fin du ramollissement, le
support 3 mobile est déplacé en translation parallèlement à l'axe de
rotation A de manière à mettre en contact les deux extrémités 71 et 91
des préformes et à permettre le soudage bout à bout.During the implementation of the device, the two preforms are
displaced in rotation around the axis of rotation A, in the
Selon un autre mode de réalisation, figure 2, le premier
chalumeau 17 comprend en outre deux buses auxiliaires 27 et 29
disposées de part et d'autre de la première buse 19 dans un plan
perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation A et montées pivotantes dans ce
plan. De préférence, les deux buses auxiliaires 27 et 29 et la première
buse 19 sont coplanaires.According to another embodiment, Figure 2, the
La géométrie et la constitution deux buses auxiliaires sont identiques à celles des buses portées par les chalumeaux décrites précédemment. De même, ces deux buses sont alimentées en hydrogène et en oxygène.The geometry and the constitution of two auxiliary nozzles are identical to those of the nozzles carried by the torches described previously. Likewise, these two nozzles are supplied with hydrogen and oxygen.
Les deux buses auxiliaires créent deux flammes 271 et 291 qui
convergent vers l'axe de rotation. En se mélangeant aux deux
flammes 191 et 231 issues des deux buses portées par les deux
chalumeaux, elles apportent un supplément de chaleur de combustion
disponible pour le chauffage des extrémités de préformes ayant un
diamètre plus ou moins important. Par leur disposition dans un plan
perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation, les deux buses auxiliaires
répartissent le supplément de chaleur sur toute la surface des
extrémités, contribuant ainsi à élever plus rapidement la température
des extrémités et à limiter la propagation de la chaleur dans le sens
axial des préformes. Un centrage des cônes de chauffe en fonction du
diamètre des préformes est obtenu par pivotement 28 des deux buses
auxiliaires dans le plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation. Le
diamètre des cônes de chauffe est proportionnel aux débits des buses
en gaz de combustion. Le dispositif selon l'invention permet ainsi de
souder des préformes de différents diamètres typiquement compris
entre 40 millimètres (mm) et 120 mm.The two auxiliary nozzles create two
D'une façon avantageuse, les deux buses auxiliaires 27 et 29 et
la première buse 19 portées par le premier chalumeau 17 ont
ensemble un débit gazeux égal à celui de la deuxième buse 23 portée
par le deuxième chalumeau 21. Un tel réglage des débits de gaz
optimise la dépense de chaleur de combustion. A titre d'exemple,
deux préformes de diamètre égal à 70 mm sont soudées bout à bout
en quelques minutes, la largeur de la zone affectée par le chauffage
étant limitée est à 20 mm. Il faut encore relever une absence de
cordon de soudure ainsi qu'une absence de dépôt de silice de part et
d'autre de la zone de soudage.Advantageously, the two
Dans un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention, un dispositif de soudage comprend les deux préformes décrites précédemment et disposées verticalement suivant un axe de fibrage d'une machine de descente préforme connue. Les deux buses et les deux chalumeaux oxhydriques précédents sont disposés dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de fibrage et créent deux flammes entre deux extrémités des préformes se faisant face. L'une au moins des deux buses est montée mobile en translation perpendiculairement à l'axe de fibrage de manière à faire converger les deux flammes vers l'axe de fibrage et à créer deux cônes de chauffe au droit des deux extrémités des préformes.In a third embodiment of the invention, a welding device includes the two preforms described previously and arranged vertically along a fiberizing axis of a known preform descent machine. The two nozzles and the two previous oxyhydrogen torches are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the fiber-drawing axis and create two flames between two ends of the preforms facing each other. At least one of the two nozzles is mounted movable in translation perpendicular to the axis fiberizing so as to converge the two flames towards the axis of fiberizing and to create two heating cones in line with the two ends of the preforms.
Selon ce troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention, la soudure est réalisée sans rotation des deux préformes autour de l'axe de fibrage. Une soudure en continu des préformes est prévue lorsque les chalumeaux et les buses sont intégrés à un ensemble disposé en amont de la machine de descente préforme qui permet d'aligner les préformes dans l'axe de fibrage.According to this third embodiment of the invention, the welding is made without rotation of the two preforms around the axis of fiberizing. Continuous welding of the preforms is provided when the torches and nozzles are integrated into a set arranged in upstream of the preform descent machine which aligns the preforms in the fiber-drawing axis.
Selon une variante des modes précédents de réalisation de l'invention, le premier ou le deuxième chalumeau est pourvu de deux buses d'azote disposées de part et d'autre du chalumeau pour focaliser sur les faces à souder des deux préformes, les flammes issues de la première ou de la deuxième buse à gaz de combustion. Les deux buses d'azote permettent également d'éviter un dépôt polluant de silice sur la surface latérale des préformes. A titre d'exemple, les deux buses sont disposées à 50 millimètres de part et d'autre du chalumeau et leur débit d'azote est de 20 litres par minute. According to a variant of the previous embodiments of the invention, the first or the second torch is provided with two nitrogen nozzles arranged on either side of the torch to focus on the welding faces of the two preforms, the flames from the first or second combustion gas nozzle. The two nitrogen nozzles also prevent deposits pollutant of silica on the lateral surface of the preforms. As for example, the two nozzles are arranged at 50 millimeters apart and on the other side of the torch and their nitrogen flow is 20 liters per minute.
Dans le cas du troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention, les buses d'azote permettent de limiter le réchauffement de la préforme qui occupe une position supérieure par rapport à l'autre préforme, en contrecarrant un effet de cheminée des gaz issus des buses à combustion. Pour améliorer l'homogénéité de température des faces à souder, il est prévu de monter l'un des deux chalumeaux mobile autour de l'axe de fibrage et de lui imposer, dans le plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de fibrage, un mouvement de va et vient angulaire par exemple de 60 degrés avec une période de 10 secondes. Avec ce mouvement, on réalise une soudure de deux préformes de 100 millimètres de diamètre en moins de une minute.In the case of the third embodiment of the invention, the nitrogen nozzles limit the heating of the preform which occupies a higher position with respect to the other preform, in counteracting a chimney effect of gases from the nozzles to combustion. To improve the temperature uniformity of the faces to weld, one of the two movable torches is planned around the fiber drawing axis and to impose it, in the plane perpendicular to the fiber axis, a back and forth movement angular for example 60 degrees with a period of 10 seconds. With this movement, we weld two preforms of 100 millimeters in diameter in less than a minute.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9800123A FR2773366B1 (en) | 1998-01-08 | 1998-01-08 | END-TO-END OPTICAL FIBER PREFORM WELDING DEVICE |
| FR9800123 | 1998-01-08 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0928780A1 true EP0928780A1 (en) | 1999-07-14 |
| EP0928780B1 EP0928780B1 (en) | 2002-04-10 |
Family
ID=9521598
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP19990400001 Expired - Lifetime EP0928780B1 (en) | 1998-01-08 | 1999-01-04 | Apparatus for butt-welding optical fibre preforms |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0928780B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH11292554A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69901195T2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2773366B1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0950643B1 (en) * | 1998-04-09 | 2005-03-30 | Draka Comteq B.V. | Soldering the ends of optical preforms together by means of a plasma torch |
| CN113735433A (en) * | 2018-08-08 | 2021-12-03 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | Fusion splicing equipment for manufacturing optical fibers |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108249752B (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2020-07-03 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | Method for manufacturing optical fiber |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3113012A (en) * | 1960-05-11 | 1963-12-03 | Corning Glass Works | Glass-working apparatus |
| GB2081250A (en) * | 1980-07-31 | 1982-02-17 | Boscher Daniel | Method and apparatus for fabricating optical fibres |
| JPS57160934A (en) * | 1981-03-25 | 1982-10-04 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Base material feeder of optical fiber drawer |
| DE3929894A1 (en) * | 1989-09-08 | 1991-03-21 | Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag | Continuous optic fibre drawing giving no stoppages of fresh material - uses preform chucks which change places to keep continuous feed to furnace |
-
1998
- 1998-01-08 FR FR9800123A patent/FR2773366B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1999
- 1999-01-04 EP EP19990400001 patent/EP0928780B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-01-04 DE DE1999601195 patent/DE69901195T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-01-07 JP JP225199A patent/JPH11292554A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3113012A (en) * | 1960-05-11 | 1963-12-03 | Corning Glass Works | Glass-working apparatus |
| GB2081250A (en) * | 1980-07-31 | 1982-02-17 | Boscher Daniel | Method and apparatus for fabricating optical fibres |
| JPS57160934A (en) * | 1981-03-25 | 1982-10-04 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Base material feeder of optical fiber drawer |
| DE3929894A1 (en) * | 1989-09-08 | 1991-03-21 | Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag | Continuous optic fibre drawing giving no stoppages of fresh material - uses preform chucks which change places to keep continuous feed to furnace |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 7, no. 3 (C - 143) 7 January 1983 (1983-01-07) * |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0950643B1 (en) * | 1998-04-09 | 2005-03-30 | Draka Comteq B.V. | Soldering the ends of optical preforms together by means of a plasma torch |
| CN113735433A (en) * | 2018-08-08 | 2021-12-03 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | Fusion splicing equipment for manufacturing optical fibers |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0928780B1 (en) | 2002-04-10 |
| FR2773366A1 (en) | 1999-07-09 |
| JPH11292554A (en) | 1999-10-26 |
| DE69901195T2 (en) | 2002-10-31 |
| FR2773366B1 (en) | 2000-02-04 |
| DE69901195D1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
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